The Princess of Wales’ uncle could make Kensington Palace look “ridiculous” if he undermines their calls on the media to maintain the royal’s right to privacy as she recovers from abdominal surgery, a new episode of Newsweek’s The Royal Report podcast has heard.
Gary Goldsmith, 58, who is Kate’s maternal uncle, entered the ITV network’s Celebrity Big Brother house on Monday, introducing himself as: “The uncle to the future queen of our country, Catherine Middleton, the current Princess of Wales.”
His participation in the show comes as Kensington Palace has faced public scrutiny in recent weeks over Kate’s ongoing absence from public life after undergoing abdominal surgery in January.
On February 27, conspiracy theories and speculation about Kate and her health skyrocketed on social media after Prince William canceled an appearance at a memorial service citing an undisclosed personal reason.
The palace reacted by restating that the princess continues to do “well” but that they would not provide a “running commentary” on her health and recovery. They previously stated that Kate would not return to public duties until “after Easter.”
This reluctance to be drawn on disclosing information about the royal’s private medical details and condition by the media—which they have stuck to stringently thus far—could be undermined if Goldsmith were to speak unofficially for them by discussing the subject on Celebrity Big Brother, Newsweek’s chief royal correspondent, Jack Royston, has told Royal Report listeners.
“The whole KP [Kensington Palace] stance is at its heart, an appeal to the mainstream media to take the higher ground and ignore social media,” he said. “So, in other words, they’re kind of saying ‘be the better people let the social media gossip be the social media gossip, you’re above that and and you can show the respect that you have for the Princess of Wales’ right to privacy over her health.’
“The palace are saying that’s what they’re doing, they’ve always maintained that they will respect her privacy and they’re not going to budge from that stance. But, if her own uncle fails to maintain that stance, then they’re going to look completely ridiculous and he won’t even need to say very much to completely blow up their whole position. If he says anything at all about Kate’s health their appeal to privacy lies in ruins.”
In his first 48 hours in the Celebrity Big Brother house, Goldsmith did not shy away from discussing his royal connections. However, he has not so far mentioned the princess’ health on the show.
“It’s difficult to get hold of Kate at the best of times…She’s busy and she’s got children and I love the fact that she’s putting family first,” he told reality TV veteran Sharon Osbourne and music manager Louis Walsh in a conversation that aired on Tuesday.
Her and William are the savior of the royal family. Although I have to say I think [King] Charles has done a spectacular job,” he continued.
Though there is a chance he may not disclose more personal revelations about his niece, Royston assessed that it would be “very easy” for Goldsmith to “go further than the palace have gone” in talking about Kate’s health, resulting in a PR challenge.
He may not have mentioned the speculation surrounding Kate’s surgery and recovery so far on TV but he did address it in a pre-show newspaper interview, which suggests he will not shy away from the subject if it is raised.
Asked what his reaction to social media conspiracy theories about his niece was, he told the Daily Mirror: “I think they should leave her alone right now because there’s a reason why [the Royal family’s] not talking about it and they are giving her a little bit of space.”
He went on to add that: “She’s the number one royal for a reason and I just beg people to give her some space. I do think that they’re changing the dynamic and they are family-centric. They’ve got duty and it’s a privilege to have the roles that they do have, but it’s family first. You’ve got to look after yourself. You put your own oxygen mask on before you look after others. Kate, get well, love you, and when you’re ready we’ll see you again. That’s what we do to anyone else, why not her?”
